Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 63

अन्तराय-उपसर्ग-विवेचनम् / Analysis of Yogic Obstacles (Antarāyas) and Upasargas

Devanagari script

द्विदलेषोडशारे वा द्वादशारे यथाविधि । दशारे वा षडस्रे वा चतुरस्रे शिवं स्मरेत्

Transliteration

dvidaleṣoḍaśāre vā dvādaśāre yathāvidhi | daśāre vā ṣaḍasre vā caturasre śivaṃ smaret

Translation

In einem Lotus mit zwei Blättern und sechzehn Speichen, oder in einem mit zwölf Speichen nach der vorgeschriebenen Regel—oder auch in einem mit zehn Speichen, oder in einem Sechseck, oder in einem Quadrat—soll man an Herrn Śiva meditieren.

Word by Word

• dvi-dale: in the two-petalled (one)
• dvi-dale: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + dala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; द्विगु ‘in the two-petalled (lotus)’

• ṣoḍaśa-āre: in the sixteen-spoked (one)
• ṣoḍaśa-āre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣoḍaśa (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + āra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; द्विगु ‘in the sixteen-spoked (one)’

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प; alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (वा)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

• dvādaśa-āre: in the twelve-spoked (one)
• dvādaśa-āre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + āra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; द्विगु ‘in the twelve-spoked (one)’

• yathā-vidhi: as prescribed
• yathā-vidhi: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; indeclinable adverbial: ‘according to the prescribed rule’

• daśa-āre: in the ten-spoked (one)
• daśa-āre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśa (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + āra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; द्विगु ‘in the ten-spoked (one)’

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प; alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (वा)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

• ṣaḍ-asre: in the six-cornered (one)
• ṣaḍ-asre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭ (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + asra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; द्विगु ‘in the hexagonal (six-cornered) (one)’

• vā: or
• vā: Vikalpa (विकल्प; alternative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (वा)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक अव्यय)

• catur-asre: in the four-cornered (one)
• catur-asre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण; location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + asra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; द्विगु ‘in the four-cornered (square) (one)’

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म; object of remembrance)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• smaret: should meditate/remember
• smaret: Kriyā (क्रिया; main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; from √smṛ (स्मृ) ‘should remember/meditate upon’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse teaches that Śiva (Pati) is to be contemplated through disciplined dhyāna using sacred geometric supports; the form (lotus, spokes, hexagon, square) is a meditative aid, while the goal is steady remembrance of Śiva leading the bound soul (paśu) beyond bonds (pāśa) toward liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

It aligns with Saguna-upāsanā: the practitioner visualizes Śiva within structured yantra-like forms as a support for concentration, similar to how the Liṅga serves as a concrete focus through which one approaches the transcendent Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Yantra-supported dhyāna: sit with mantra-japa (commonly the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and mentally place Śiva in a chosen geometric locus (lotus/spoked wheel/hexagon/square) as prescribed, sustaining one-pointed remembrance.